Context:
India has improved its ranking in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024.
Network Readiness Index (NRI):
- Aprominent global index that assesses the application and impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in economies worldwide.
- Objective – Measures how well countries can leverage the opportunities provided by ICT.
- Initially launched in 2002 with the World Economic Forum
- Published by the Portulans Institute and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.
- Evaluates the network readiness of 133 economies, covering 95% of global GDP.
- Assessment Criteria – Performance is assessed based on 4 main pillars, each divided into 3 sub-pillars.
- Top Performers – United States, Singapore, and Finland have led the NRI rankings for three consecutive years.
- Singapore and the Republic of Korea are the only Asian countries in the top 10.
- Low Ranking Countries – African nations like Uganda (118th), Malawi (119th), and Chad (130th) are among the lowest-ranked.
India’s Ranking:
- India has improved its overall ranking to 49th, up from 60th in the 2023 report.
- 1st Rank in AI Scientific Publications, AI Talent Concentration, and ICT Services Exports.
- 2nd Rank in FTTH/Building Internet Subscriptions, Mobile Broadband Internet Traffic, International Internet Bandwidth.
- 3rd Rank in Domestic Market Scale.
- 4th Rank in Annual Investment in Telecommunication Services.
Govt Initiatives aiding Digital Transformation:
- Digital India Program
- BharatNet Initiative – To connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband.
- 5G Intelligent Village Initiative – Aims to bridge connectivity gaps and empower rural communities.
- Bharat 6G Vision – Aims to make India a global leader in 6G technology with a focus on AI, IoT, and blockchain.
- National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018
- National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy – To position India as a global leader in AI research and development.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Digital security infrastructure
(b) Food security infrastructure
(c) Health care and education infrastructure
(d) Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure.
Answer: (a)
